Differential expression of several glycosyltransferases predicts that cancer cells of HBE display higher levels of mucin-type O-glycosylation (GALNT8) with sugar chains terminating with sialyl-Tn, (ST6GALNAC1), sialyl-6-T structures (ST6GALNAC2), and Core 3 structures (B3GNT6); increased biosynthesis of type 1 chains (B3GALT5); and increased α2,3 sialylation of type 2 chains (ST3GAL4), forming acceptor substrates for B4GALNT2. This evidence concerns the gene GALNT8 and cancer.